Chapter 426 - 209: That Night, Li Zhi Did Not Leave
Chapter 426: Chapter 209: That Night, Li Zhi Did Not Leave
The commercial street felt like a beacon of hope against the chill. The steaming lamb spine hotpot promised to drive away their fatigue from class and their gripes about the school’s administration, becoming the warmest, most welcome thought on this cold Sunday noon.
They burst noisily from the classroom, their footsteps echoing through the empty school building. Filled with an urgent craving for good food and a longing for a brief respite, they poured out into the crisp midday winter sun.
The newly opened lamb spine hotpot restaurant on the commercial street was a cacophony of voices, buzzing with a lively, bustling energy.
A massive copper pot sat in the center of the table, its milky-white broth bubbling furiously.
The fragrant aroma, mingled with billowing steam, wafted straight into their noses, instantly banishing the chill they’d brought in from outside.
As they took their seats, the group "accidentally" on purpose squeezed Ah Jie and Zhuo Peipei next to each other.
He Zhiyu, sandwiched between Li Zhi and Zhuo Peipei, wore an expression of pure innocence.
And next to Li Zhi, of course, was Shen Yuan.
The group sat around the table, watching the pot simmer and bubble as the distinctive aroma of lamb filled the air.
The same boys and girls who had just been crying hunger were now staring eagerly at the chunks of meat tumbling in the pot, their chopsticks poised in anticipation.
Neither Shen Yuan nor Li Zhi had anything against lamb. In fact, back in their hometown, lamb bones were a rather famous local dish.
Shen Yuan even remembered going out with his parents to eat lamb bones at one or two in the morning when he was a kid.
’So ridiculous.’
Of course, Li Zhi had been there too.
"Let’s eat! Let’s eat!" Chen Mingyu impatiently snatched a large piece of lamb spine. He didn’t care that it was scorching hot; he just blew on it twice before stuffing it in his mouth.
He grimaced from the heat.
"Real classy," Yang Ze said, rolling his eyes at him. But he was quick to grab a piece for himself, letting out a satisfied sigh. "This miserable weather calls for exactly this! Warms you right up!"
Ah Jie was about to grab some meat when Yang Ze nudged his leg. Taking the hint, he quickly scooped up a piece for Zhuo Peipei. "Here, Sister Pei, you first."
Zhuo Peipei smiled and nodded, saying quietly, "Thanks. You have some too."
Li Zhi nibbled at the piece of lamb spine Shen Yuan had placed in her bowl. While her movements weren’t exactly elegant, they were still quite ladylike.
While eating, He Zhiyu’s bright eyes scanned the table, zeroing in on the subtle interactions between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi.
It made her heart flutter with sugary sweetness.
After a few bites had laid a warm foundation in his stomach, Ah Jie leaned back in satisfaction and took a huge gulp of his iced Coke.
Ah Jie smacked his lips. Looking at the lively steam rising from the pot and the familiar faces around him, he was suddenly struck by a wave of sentimentality.
"Winter is the perfect time for an iced Coke."
"They’re called ’cold’ drinks for a reason. Obviously, you’re supposed to have them when it’s cold out."
Li Zhi was the first to agree with Ah Jie.
The pretty girl looked at Shen Yuan and declared confidently, "See? What did I tell you? Winter is for eating ice cream!"
Shen Yuan rolled his eyes helplessly.
Li Zhi had wanted to order ice cream earlier, but he had shot the idea down.
"You want to eat it all year round!"
It was meant as a sarcastic jab, but Li Zhi latched onto it with a nod. "Hey, you all heard him! Shen Yuan himself said I can eat it all year round."
"Hey!"
Shen Yuan was about to retort when he saw Li Zhi tilt her head slightly, looking up at him.
Her eyes were glistening, and her fluttering lashes held a rare softness.
Her fingers unconsciously found Shen Yuan’s sleeve, tugging it gently. Even her complaint came out in a soft, drawn-out whine.
"Pretty please? You didn’t buy me any last time we went to Hang City... I haven’t had it in so long."
The entire table was suddenly plunged into a strange silence.
After a moment of silence, looks of utter disbelief appeared on everyone else’s faces.
Then, Zhuo Peipei clapped a hand over her mouth, her shoulders beginning to tremble suspiciously.
He Zhiyu’s eyes widened in shock, and she began frantically pinching her own thigh under the table.
’Li Zhi was playing cute!’
’She was actually playing cute with Shen Yuan in front of everyone!’
Ah Jie, Yang Ze, and Chen Mingyu suddenly felt like they’d lost their appetites.
Shen Yuan felt an invisible hand clench around his heart.
He looked at her slightly puffed-out cheeks and the downturned corners of her eyes. Her pitiful expression was like a feather grazing his heart.
All his arguments died in his throat, replaced by a sigh of resignation. "...I surrender."
Shen Yuan took out his phone and scanned the QR code on the table to order.
"I’m telling you, just a small one."
The words were barely out of his mouth when Li Zhi tugged his sleeve again, looking up at him with that same pitiful expression.
’A small portion is my bottom line,’ Shen Yuan thought. ’I can’t let her get her way.’
Just as Shen Yuan was about to refuse, Li Zhi murmured, "Let’s get a large one... We can share."
Shen Yuan took a deep breath. ’There’s no refusing her.’
"Fine, fine, fine."
A triumphant glint instantly lit up Li Zhi’s eyes. The pitiful look from a moment ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a sly, irrepressible grin.
Watching the scene unfold, Ah Jie started, "Damn! Yuan, you... HISS—"
He had been about to imitate Li Zhi’s tone, but the quick-thinking Yang Ze smacked him hard on the back.
Yang Ze warned in a low voice, "Shut up and eat your meat! You got a death wish?!"
After saying that, Yang Ze quickly went back to stuffing his face, but his suspiciously trembling shoulders gave away the fact that he was trying to stifle his laughter.
Chen Mingyu shot a knowing look back and forth between Shen Yuan and Li Zhi.
’I’m so jealous.’
As for the two lovebirds, their sweet moment was over.
’Could Li Zhi really not have ice cream?’
If she really wanted some, she could buy it anytime she pleased. A single ice cream was well within her budget.